PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an examination to determine if he has PTSD due to in-service stressors and additional examinations of his knees and spine. The issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also raised but not addressed.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are severe, leading to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective from the date of his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the claim to reopen his right knee disability has been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70% since May 2008, and the RO must obtain all outstanding records to determine if a higher rating was warranted prior to that date.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 50% to 30%, effective April 1, 2007. The Board has restored the original 50% rating due to a lack of material improvement in the condition.

The case is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The examiner should specifically address whether the Veteran's report of feeling threatened by a soldier who committed shootings on the firing range was 'fear' as defined in the DSM-IV.

The Veteran is not eligible for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund as his service was in the Regular Army of the United States, and he already receives VA disability compensation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating required for this condition. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient development and examination, including a need for another VA psychiatric examination and review of stressor events.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his claimed PTSD is not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since July 2007. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating, as his symptoms have worsened and he now meets criteria for a 50% or higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by symptoms such as survivor's guilt, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, impaired short- and long-term memory, impaired judgment, hypervigilance, hyperstartle response, disturbances of motivation and mood, sleep difficulty, depression, anxiety, anger and angry outbursts, irritability, emotional numbing, and isolative behavior. However, the Veteran was alert, oriented, cooperative, had appropriate personal hygiene, and good eye contact.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no credible evidence corroborating his claimed in-service stressful experiences and any diagnosis of PTSD was based on unverified accounts given by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a bilateral ankle strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including notification of the requirement to submit buddy statements supporting his claimed stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and denied service connection for substance abuse as a result of his own willful misconduct.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and insufficient examination report.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD did not meet or approximate the criteria for a 100% schedular rating prior to December 7, 2005. The effective date of the current 100% schedular rating is therefore set at December 7, 2005.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the medical opinions indicate that it is less likely than not related to service.,The Veteran's back disability (Degenerative Disc Disease with Lumbar Stenosis) claim is granted as the VA examiner opined that it was as likely as not caused by or a result of his military service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder) claim is granted as the VA examiner opined that it was as likely as not related to his military service.